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The Puente Project is a national-award winning program that helps prepare educationally underserved students transfer to four-year colleges and universities, earn degrees, and return to the community as leaders and mentors to future generations. Puente is sponsored by the University of California and participating community colleges. Puente is open to all interested students. At Los Angeles Valley College the program has three major components:
In a cohort, students take English 28 and English 101 consecutively. These classes are taught by the same instructor who is especially is interested in Latino issues and culture. Students develop their writing skills in a supportive and stimulating environment while exploring the Mexican American/ Latino experience.
Puente students work closely with the Puente counselor to explore both academic and career options. A detailed educational plan leading students to transfer is developed with each individual. Puente students are also required to take a Personal Development class taught by the Puente counselor in the fall. Students visit various university campuses and participate in an annual Puente Motivational Conference that takes place at a UC campus.
Puentistas are matched with an academically and professionally successful mentor from the community. Mentors share with students how they maintain their cultural identity and how they balance family, career, and community related activities. Students are asked to shadow mentors in their professional environments and oftentimes mentors invite their mentees to cultural events. We know that the interaction between mentors and mentees can encourage and inspire students to continue their education and professional training. Mentors along with students and their families are invited to an annual reception at Valley College.
Both the instructor and the counselor receive special intensive training from the University of California. Because of the program's rigor, Puente students are given special consideration when applying to the university.
Puente has proven to be quite successful; retention and success rates of Puente students are significantly greater than those of non-Puente students. These numbers become even more impressive when you compare Latino Puente students with non-Puente Latinos. Puente students also transfer to the university in significantly larger numbers than other non-Puente Latino students at the community colleges according to the Puente State office.
Rod Moore is the Puente instructor and Donna Olvera is the Puente counselor at LAVC. Please feel free to talk to them if you would like more information about this wonderfully successful, student-centered program.
Donna Olvera's phone number is 818-778-5538
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